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that there are 37,376 correspondingly more widows pensioned under the act of June 27, 1890.

Your attention is invited to the fact that the annual value of the pension roll was greater on June 30, 1899, than it ever had been (see Table No. 28), being $649,496 more than it was on June 30, 1898, which was the largest up to that time. It will be noted that while the rolls contain the names of 2,195 less pensioners than the year preceding, the average annual value of each pension was greater on June 30, 1899, than it was on June 30, 1898. The average annual value of each pension (invalid and widows) under the general laws is greater than it ever has been, and while the average annual value of each pension under the act of June 27, 1890, gradually decreased from 1891 (first year), the table shows that there was an increase in the value during the past year, and this, too, while the number of widow pensioners was greater than ever before.

The total amount paid out in the fiscal year of 1898 for army and navy pensions was $144,651,879, while for the fiscal year of 1899 the amount was only $138,355,053, showing a decrease of $6,296,826. This decrease is due in part to the fact that there were 7,614 certificates (original and restorations, see page 3, report of 1898) issued in June, 1897, which were held in the Bureau and not sent to the agencies for payment until after July 1, 1897 (account fiscal year 1898), so as to avoid creating a deficiency; also the first payments were considerably larger in the year 1898 than in the year 1899, for the reason, as stated, that special efforts had been made to adjudicate and dispose of the claims of long standing during the year 1898, and there were less of them during the past year.

TABLE NO. 2

shows the number of pensioners dropped from the rolls by reason of death, remarriage of widows, minors attaining the age of 16, failure to claim within statutory period, and for all other causes, and in comparison with previous years were as follows, viz:

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This table shows (footnote) the number of minors not appearing on

rolls in separate certificates.

TABLE NO. 3

shows the amount of the several appropriations and amount of disbursements for each account during the year, viz:

Amount for pensions, appropriations.

Amount paid out for pensions

Appropriated for medical examinations..

Paid out for three quarters

Appropriations for salaries and clerk hire, agencies ($72,000 and $415,000).....

Paid out for salaries and clerk hire, agencies

Appropriations for rents, fuel, lights, and contingencies, agencies.
Paid out for rents, fuel, lights, and contingencies, agencies

See footnote showing amount disbursed for navy pensions during
the year

Of this amount there was paid from the navy-pension fund .....

Leaving a balance of..

$140, 000, 000. 00

138, 355, 052.95 950,000.00

715, 191. 26

487,000.00 476, 456.98 46,830.00 45, 039.51

3, 683, 794. 37 342, 275.00

3, 341, 519. 37

to be paid from the regular annual appropriation by Congress for the payment of pensions. It is, I think, generally believed that the navy pensions are paid wholly from the "Navy-pension funds," which is not the case.

TABLE NO. 4

shows the disbursements at the several (eighteen) agencies for army and navy pensions, fees to examining surgeons, salaries, clerk hire, rents, fuel, lights, and contingent expenses, being a total of $139,482,695.87.

TABLE NO. 5

shows amounts paid at each of the several agencies for pensions granted under the general laws, viz: $71,115,703.56. For the year 1898 it was $75,275,383.12.

TABLE NO. 6

shows the amounts paid at each of the several agencies for army and navy pensions granted under the general laws for account of the war with Spain, the total being $28,606.81.

TABLE NO. 7

shows the amounts paid at the several agencies for army and navy pensions granted under the act of June 27, 1890, and the total so paid was $64,321,460.77. For the year 1898 it was $66,255,670.67.

TABLE NO. 8

shows payments on account of war of 1812, $44,381,783.22; war with Mexico, $26,670,002.19; Indian wars, 1832 to 1842, $4,421,886.16.

The above are total payments down to and including fiscal year 1899.

TABLE NO. 9

shows the number of each class of claims allowed and amounts of first payments, and the average of each first payment under the different laws. Also that at the close of the year there were in the hands of the disbursing agencies 7,153 certificates issued by this Bureau, on which the first payments will be $853,528.86.

Also amount of fees paid attorneys for the year, by deducting same from pension allowances, $476,969.61, as compared with the year 1898 of $730,019.36.

TABLE NO. 10

is a classified statement of the number of pensioners on the rolls of each agency and showing increases and decreases by classes, viz:

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shows the disbursements for pensions from 1866 to June 30, 1899, viz:

Army.

Navy

Total for pensions....

For fees paid examining surgeons..

For expenses disbursing.

For salaries in bureau

For other expenses..

Total

$2,338, 559, 870.58 51, 351, 104. 16 2,389, 910, 974. 74 15,490, 986. 23 12, 092, 178.63 44, 442, 110. 75 7,795, 115.67

2, 469, 731, 366. 02

TABLE NO. 12

is a statement showing original claims filed during the year, by classes under different laws and the several wars, and corresponding showing of allowances for each year since 1861.

The footnote explains the claims filed as of account of war with Spain, and all these claims are considered in the total 48,765 claims filed.

For detailed account of claims filed, see Table No. 19 and explanation.

TABLE NO. 13

is a statement showing the number of pensioners residing in each State and Territory, together with the total amount of pensions paid in each State and Territory; also number of pensioners living in foreign countries and the amount of money paid in each country during the year.

The number of pensioners living abroad is 4,306, and amount paid in pensions was $633,309.70. It is shown that there are 65 less pensioners abroad than at the close of the fiscal year 1898.

The summary on this table shows that there were paid out for pensions for the year $138,355,052.95.

TABLE NO. 14 WITH 14A AND 14B

show by classes the number of pensioners under the general laws, and the number under each rating.

First, it will be observed (14) that there are 1,294 widows drawing only $8 per month under the general law; these married the soldier since March 19, 1886 (see act of March 19, 1886).

The 82,634 widows at $12 per month were entitled by reason of the marriage prior to March 19, 1886, and the soldier husband having died of a disability of service origin.

The 1,569 pensioned at $15 per month represent widows of officers who held the rank of second lieutenant; the 2,542 pensioned at $17 per month, rank of first lieutenant; the 2,820 at $20 per month, rank of captain; the 861 at $25 per month, rank of major, and the 877 at $30 per month, widows of officers holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel or of higher rank, this being the maximum rate that can be granted under existing laws. Those of irregular rates are granted under or by virtue of special acts of Congress.

It will be noted that there are 15,498 invalid pensioners at the rate of $30 per month, or total disability; this rate is also given for the loss of an arm below the elbow, a leg below the knee, total deafness, and for officers with rank of lieutenant-colonel, or higher rank known as "rank" pension.

The irregular rates in the Navy pensioners are occasioned by reason of the "Navy pension" being granted in addition to regular pension for disability.

Table 14a gives a list of those pensioners under the act of June 27, 1890, providing for a pension of from $6 per month (minimum) to $12 per month (maximum) for disability incurred since the war to such an extent as to incapacitate the soldier from making a living in whole or in part by manual labor. Your attention is called to the fact that under this law there are 160,406 invalid pensioners at the rate of $12, being the corresponding rate to $30 under the general laws, for disabilities contracted in the service and for which there are 15,498 pensioned, including other conditions.

Attention is requested to footnotes on this table-14a.

TABLE 14B.

War of 1812 there were 5 widows pensioned; "old wars" prior to 1861 there were 3 widows pensioned; Indian wars (1832-1842) there were 13 survivors and 227 widows pensioned; for account of the war with Mexico there were 26 survivors and 427 widows pensioned, making a total of 39 survivors and 662 widows pensioned on account of these

wars.

This table also contains an exhibit of pensions granted for account of the war with Spain.

TABLE NO. 15

gives the names of the surviving widows and daughters of the revolutionary soldiers on the pension rolls June 30, 1899, with their ages and places of residence.

In comparing this with the similar table of last year it will be found that widow Nancy A. Weatherman, of Elk Mills, Tenn., has passed away, leaving at the close of the year 4 widows and 7 daughters.

At the close of the fiscal year 1898 there were 3 survivors of the war of 1812; during the past year Elijah Glenn, of Newark, N. J., and Eleazor Smith, of Danbury, N. H., have passed away, leaving but 1 survivor of the war of 1812 on the roll of honor, viz: Hiram Cronk, aged 99 years, post-office address, North Western, N. Y.

TABLE NO. 16

is a report showing the number of pension certificates issued during the year of all classes.

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